A Study to evaluate the effectiveness of guided imagery on pain among patients who underwent abdominal surgeries in a selected hospital at Coimbatore

A study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of guided imagery on pain among patients who underwent abdominal surgeries in Kongunad hospitals, Coimbatore. A quantitative evaluative approach with quasi experimental pre test, post-test control group design was used. Non-Probability purposive sampling technique was used to select the samples. 60 samples were selected, among them 30 samples from first floor were assigned to experimental group and 30 samples from second floor were assigned to control group. The conceptual frame work selected for this study was based on modified Ludwig Von Bertanlanffy general system theory. Demographic variables were collected by using a Structured Interview schedule. In experimental group, investigator used guided imagery and assessed the level of pain by using numerical pain intensity rating scale. In control group investigator assess the level of pain without any intervention. The data gathered were analysed by descriptive and inferential statistical method. Paired ‘t’ test value which was calculated to analyse the effectiveness of guided imagery on patients who underwent abdominal surgeries to reduce the level of pain among experimental group. The calculated paired ‘t’ value Day -I was 4.5. Day -II was 4.4. Day -III was 7.7 significantly greater than the table value 1.69 at p ≤ 0.05. Hence the hypothesis H1 is accepted. It is evident that guided imagery was effective in reducing pain among patients who underwent abdominal surgeries in experimental group. The independent ‘t’ test value in experimental group Day-I mean score was 4.7 with standard deviation of 2.7. In control group Day –I mean score was 6.6 with standard deviation of 2.2 independent ‘t’ test value was 6.8. Day II experimental group mean score was 3.2 with standard deviation of 2.5 in control group mean score was 4.9 with standard deviation of 2.1, and the independent ‘t’ test value was 6.1. Day-III experimental group mean score was 1.8 with standard deviation of 1.5 in control group mean score was 2.9 with standard deviation of 1.5, and the independent ‘t’ test value was 5.1 is greater than the table value of 1.69 at the level of p ≤ 0.05. Hence guided imagery is effective method to reducing level of pain among patients who underwent abdominal surgeries